Chelsea suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City today, falling to 8th in the table. Despite splashing hundreds of millions on the likes of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, and Edouard Mendy, and already having stars like Christian Pulisic and Ngolo Kante, Chelsea has failed to impress so far this season. In the game against City, Chelsea was flat-footed and lethargic. Offensively, Chelsea is a one-trick pony. How many times can you watch Pulisic cut inside, lay the ball off to an overlapping run from Chilwell, and watch the fullback put a tame ball into the 6-yard box? Defensively, Frank Lampard has failed to give Chelsea any sort of identity, which allowed Manchester City to cruise past London’s Blues. After the match, Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey of The Athletic reported that the Chelsea Hierarchy are looking at replacement options should they sack Lampard. Unfortunately for Chelsea, but fortunately for Lampard, former Tottenham Manager and top free agent Mauricio Pochettino has just joined PSG. Below are a few options, some less likely than others, who could be a good fits for Chelsea.
The Obvious Option: Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel was recently fired by PSG and subsequently replaced by Mauricio Pochettino after his relationship with PSG’s board crumbled according to Le10 Sport in France. The German coach led PSG to the Champion’s League final last year, falling short to Bayern Munich due to the lone goal of the match from Bayern winger Kingsley Coman. Tuchel managed 2.35 points per match for PSG and 2.21 during his time at Dortmund, both well above Lampard’s measly 1.67 points per match during his Chelsea tenure. Tuchel normally prefers a 4-3-3 formation but has played the 3-5-2, and 4-2-2-2 as well. The former PSG manager emphasizes formational fluidity, counter-pressing, and overloading the attacking areas using fullbacks. Chelsea has the forwards to form a defensive identity around counter-pressing and winning the ball back quickly after losing it. Pulisic and Werner played in similar systems under Jurgen Klopp and Julian Nagelsmann respectively. Tuchel also knows how to get the best out of Thiago Silva, who was a brick wall during PSG’s Champion’s League run last year. Definitely an upgrade from Lampard tactically, one large qualm about Tuchel will be his ability to withstand the ruthless English media after garnering a reputation as a shy/thinker type during his time at Dortmund.
OK Option: Lucien Favre
Lucien Favre was sacked earlier this season after a lethargic start to the season with Borussia Dortmund. The Swiss manager earned 2.01 points per game during his time at Dortmund, but it’s the last formation he employed at Dortmund that should pique the interest of Chelsea’s board. Chelsea has a plethora of attacking options, so many that it’s hard to fit them all in one team. That’s why Lucien Favre’s 3-4-2-1 makes a lot of sense for Chelsea. The formation uses 3 central defenders, two box to box midfielders and two wingbacks across the 4, and two forwards just behind the traditional striker. Favre was known to use center attacking midfielder Julian Brandt as a box to box midfielder, and winger Thorgan Hazard as a wingback, which could bode well for getting more attacking players on the pitch for Chelsea. A 3-4-2-1 formation for Chelsea could give the team more of an identity than Lampard’s preferred 4-2-3-1. Favre was charged with not inspiring the players at Dortmund but the team’s results also stemmed from their large reliance on teenagers, who tend to have periodical dips in form. Unlike Tuchel, Favre hasn’t won a league title in one of Europe’s top leagues, but that didn’t stop Chelsea’s higher-ups from signing Lampard.
Frank Lampard Part 2: John Terry
Another Chelsea Legend at the beginning of his coaching career, retired defender John Terry is currently an assistant at Aston Villa. Villa is currently 7th in the table, even with Chelsea on points but with two games in hand. Even more inexperienced than Lampard was when he took the Chelsea job, this pick doesn’t make a ton of sense. There are two trends in European football, giving the reigns to an inexperienced former player, and hiring a coach from the German school of thought, where counter-pressing is in vogue. Given that Chelsea has already tried the former, a move for Favre or Tuchel could be on the cards.
Who do you think should be the next manager at Chelsea? Or should Lampard be given more time? Tweet us @newsredcard
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